Journalists protest against SL Deputy Minister

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 13:43 GMT]
Hundreds of print and electronic media personnel demonstrated against the Deputy Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment, Mr. Mervyn Silva, condemning the verbal abuse by the Deputy Minister against the Sirasa, Swarnavahini television jouranalists and several other news paper reporters and photographers who were at the Colombo Fort Magistrate Courts to cover a case against Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva's son on Monday, sources said.

Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA), Working Journalists Association and the Muslim Media Forum participated in the protest organised by the Free Media Movement (FMM).





The demonstration opposite the Fort Railway station started at 12 noon and continued for one hour.

Journalists carrying placards urged the Deputy Minister to apologize to the media community for his behavior and to respect media freedom.

The case was filed by the police Narcotic bureau against Malaka Manoj Silva, the son of Mervyn Silva, for attacking a group of police men at a five star hotel when they entered to check on drug users.

Later on Monday the main suspect Malaka Manoj Silva and three others were released on bail.